Basics About How Medical Providers Are Selected For Workers Compensation Injuries

Selection of medical providers is an area of workers’ compensation regulated by state law, and there are many variations of how providers may be selected. The basic arrangements are:

1- Employer selects provider
2- Employee selects provider
3- Employee selects from a pre-approved panel or network
4- Employer has 30 days to treat the employee then employee may change providers
5- Combination or variation of the above.

While is is not necessary to memorize how medical providers are selected in every state, as long as you know where to get this information, you SHOULD know how providers are selected in the states where you have many operations or employees. Chamber of Commerce and WorkersCompResearch both provide excellent resources. Adjusters will know the law in your state. Your broker’s claim advocate are a good source of information also.

In most states where the employee may choose their own provider, the employer usually (althogh not always) may coach or steer the employee to another provider such as the employer’s occupational clinic. Make sure to check the laws in your state before you do this though because several states have strict penalties for employers who do this and an employer can unknowingly fall into this trap.

Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp.
Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Workers’ Comp Kit^® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.